For the first time: Due to growing demand, a separate Shabbos arranged just for the Bachurim, with Shabbaton for younger boys to be scheduled in the weeks ahead — Staggerimg 42 minyanim mariv Motzei Shabbos to accommodate yesomim still in aveilus — Impact expected to last throughout the year.

Kfar Haro’ah, Israel 

The hundreds of bachurim who took part in the historic ‘Shabbos Buneinu’ this past Parsha Va’eira will not easily forget the inspiring and joyous weekend they spent in the presence of fellow yesomim and dozens of Buneinu staff, volunteers and chinuch experts.
 

Buneinu, a branch of Tov V’Chesed, led by the world-renowned Rabbi Shisha has long established itself as the premier relief mission standing beside children who have lost a parent in every way possible—emotionally, financially, socially etc.

But among its many activities, the annual Shabbatons have earned unique acclaim for giving the boys an opportunity to experience some true joy and be filled with chizuk for the long year ahead.

After weeks of preparation, Friday morning saw buses and shuttles leave from all across Israel to deliver the children to the campus that was beautifully set up to accommodate the big getaway.

Rabbi Yakov Shisha, Rabbi Meir Aker, and Rabbi Meir Shmiel Shisha who direct the Buneinu program, greeted each child with warmth and welcomed them to a Shabbos that would be filled with lavish meals, inspiring workshops, song and dance, and an opportunity to leave difficult life at home behind.

After receiving their welcoming package and enjoying a tasty to’amehu with musical accompaniment, the uplifting Kabolas Shabbos was kicked off by speeches preparing the boys for this momentous occasion.

During the lengthy davening the bachurim went outside for an uplifting dance, before returning inside for an unforgettable seudas Shabbos that was followed by a song-filled ‘buteh’ under the stars that filled the night with nigunei Shabbos.

After that, the bachurim gathered for a fascinating symposium that ran until 4 AM where they were invited to ask any questions on their mind and receive the right hashkafa to deal with what life throws in their path.

The bachurim thus began a jam-packed day full of stimulating programming.

At 8 in the morning, the entire building began ringing in unison as the alarm clocks that were gifted to each bachur were pre-set by the staff to ring at this designated time. 

The Shabbos morning meal lasted until an hour before mincha time, when they all gathered to learn with chavrusa pairings that were determined via lottery.

This led into the highlight of the Shabbos, the tear-soaked Shalosh Seudos in the dark, where song of tefilah and dveikas mixed with the pain of these broken neshamos shook the gates of heaven.

Motzei Shabbos saw dozens of minyanim Mariv held at once so that all the bachurim who are in the year R”L can daven and say kaddish.

A lavish melava malka was held, where the bachurim greeted with applause the news that two new Buneinu Centers—open whenever school’s out for the boys to eat a warm meal, relax, air out, speak with a mentor etc.—are soon to open their doors in Beitar and Tzfas, with available sponsorship opportunities made final in the weeks ahead. 

As part of the melava malka, a siyum was held on the entire shisho sidrei mishnah, learned by the bachurim in their free time in honor of their deceased parents.

It is hard for mere words to describe the feeling in the room as hundreds of innocent young boys recited kaddish together in memory of the dear father and mother in shomayim.

The evening then featured exciting singing and dancing deep into the night.

The clock showed early morning when the attendees boarded buses and received their Shabbos souvenirs and nosh bag for the way home.

It did not take long until the calls and messages from their widowed mothers and others began streaming in with feedback on the great spirits in which the boys returned from the Shabbos. The effects of this short but meaningful experience is sure to positively impact the bachurim for many months to come—and beyond!

As has become common for chassanim who have been part of Buneinu, the Buneinu Center hosted an uplifting and emotional sheva brachos to celebrate the great moment when he leaves his surviving parent’s home and turns over a new, happy leaf in life.

Friends and members of his ‘Buneinu family’ joined the festive event, and joined in the great mitzvah of simchas chosson v’kallah.

This past week, renowned man of tzedakah and chesed R’ Mechel Herman visited Israel where he marked the L’chaim for the Bnoseinu center in Beit Shemesh that he generously sponsored.

The event, held in Tov V’Chesed’s Hakramim hall, was joined by the organization’s leadership and involved askanim.

The honorable guest spoke to the assembled crowd and shared his joy in the great zechus that he has to help provide for HKB”H’s daughters.

Rabbi Shisha, Rabbi Aker and others took the opportunity to express their gratitude on behalf of the hundreds of benefitting children.

In the year since the Hakramim double-wedding-hall opened its doors, leading gedolim and admorim have visited the center to see the incredible chesed revolution for themselves, join in the efforts by putting up a mezuzah, and sharing brachos for the success of the mission.

Recently, the Machnivkeh Rebbe made a special appearance at the halls, where he was invited to put up a mezuzah and make a L’chaim and share his warmest brachos to the Simcha Fund team. 

Tov V’chesed’s Simcha Fund, which covers all wedding night expenses of yesomim and yesomos, has experienced tremendous growth in recent years as the need for support has risen greatly.

This post-Shavuos wedding season saw a staggering 106 weddings sponsored by Simcha Fund and generous donors around the globe.
 

So big was the season that some nights saw as many as 6 weddings take place!
One orphaned chosson from a Sefardi background even had his chasuna take place in the 3 weeks.

Of course, the over $1,000,000 in direct costs could not have been provided without the help of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel who wished to have a part in this great zechus in their of simcha or when in need of a yeshua.

The story of M. P., a chosson who lost both parents to COVID in a short period, took the entire community by shock.

The Buneinu family accepted him as one of our own, and his engagement was greeted joyfully by all. Last month, his family and friends joined him in an unforgettable night of elevated dancing and simchas chosson v’kallah.

While the void of his missing parents were felt by all, the chosson was able to look forward as he begins building a healthy family of his own.

Mazel Tov!

There are many young families in Beit Shemesh, and unfortunately with that, many orphaned children.

Though the boys have had a space of their own until now, Tov v’chesed leadership stepped up to provide a beautiful space for the girls as well so that they too have a warm place to spend time, eat to satisfaction, and connect with fellow orphans sharing in similar struggles.

One recent Thursday evening saw great joy and laughter fills the halls of Buneinu as the well-known badchan Yonasan Schwartz stopped by to lead a Leil Shishi farbrengen full of stories, humor and nigunim.

R’ Yonasan, who is no stranger to the organization’s leadership entertained and inspired the gathered bachurim and also shared words of chizuk for the tireless staff.

It was deep into the morning hours when the unforgettable visit wrapped up and the distinguished guest wished his goodbyes and uplifting words.

In Eretz Yisroel, Lag B’omer is a yom tov celebrated by all. Unfortunately, for many orphans, coming to Meron was a dream far removed from reality.
At last, when Tov V’chesed first began its Meron services, their dreams were finally fulfilled.

This year was especially successful as it was the only place where food was available, being that food was prohibited closer to the tziyon.

The orphaned families found fresh food and kind words at the Meron center, and it served as a haven for the children who came to R’ Shimon Bar Yochai to pour out their hearts on their behalf and on behalf of those who make their crucial services possible.

Last year’s tragedy still strikes a raw chord in every Yid’s heart.

At a time when everyone was still trying to make sense of the catastrophe as it was unfolding, Tov V’chesed geared up and headed to the front lines to provide assistance and support during this tumultuous time.

Be it breaking the terrible news to a family of their loved one’s death, or preparing the children for the levaya of their father or brother, Tov V’chesed was the shoulder to lean and cry on, and the oasis of support amidst the unimaginable despair.

In honor of the first yahrtzeit of the kedoshim at Meron, all bereaved families gathered together to gain chizuk from one another and receive words of encouragement in these extremely difficult circumstances.

The evening kicked off with welcoming words by the beloved R’ Shisha himself, where he personally welcomed the attendees. 

The families were comforted by inspirational words from famed mashpia R’ Elimelch Biderman.
The Toldos Aharon Rebbe also graced the evening with his presence offering solace to the grieving families.
Rav Meir Aker of Tov V’Chesed’s yesomim programs also addressed the crowd with a message of remembrance and hope.

For many, this evening was their first opportunity to meet fellow families who are mourning the loss of their father, brother or son.

Though the parents of young yesomim often cannot take them on a Chol Hamoed trip, the Buneinu program can and did.

The staff stepped up to the plate and provided a major trip for all orphans to join in; thus, no one was left out of the Chol Hamoed experience.

This outing was a great opportunity for the children to recharge and enjoy a change of scenery, and prompted some to share with their mentors some of what is going on in their little world, resulting in these children receiving the proper emotional support.

While in Israel for a simcha, Tov V’Chesed friend and supporter R’ Moshe Goldberger stopped by to witness the activities at the main organization warehouse.

As the man who dedicated the Bnoseinu Center in Yerushalayim in memory of his shviger Chaya Joseph A”H, he made a special visit to the center.

During the visit, conversations were had over the great work being done and how the space is already too small for the many girls, with plans for the future also discussed.